How Andoni Iraola could find his own version of Fabinho at Liverpool

Liverpool’s hopes of fighting for the Premier League title next season massively depend on the immediate impact of new boss Andoni Iraola at Anfield.

The Spaniard arrives on Merseyside having led Bournemouth to European football for the first time in their history – but he will no doubt have much bigger expectations on him in 2026/27.

The Reds faithful will demand an improvement on last campaign, as Arne Slot could only lead the club to a fifth-placed finish less than a year after claiming title glory.

Iraola will be hoping to add his name to the list of managers on Merseyside who have claimed Premier League glory, but time will be needed for the players to adapt to his demands.

The 44-year-old will no doubt wish he could call upon one player who massively captured the hearts of the fanbase during his time as a player at Anfield.

Why Fabinho is one of Liverpool’s biggest unsung heroes

Back in the summer of 2018, very few Liverpool supporters would have known what to expect after midfielder Fabinho arrived from Monaco for a reported £43m.

However, the Brazilian would quickly cement his place as one of the club’s most important players – often starting at the base of Jurgen Klopp’s three-man midfield.

The 32-year-old racked up over 200 senior appearances during his five-year stay on Merseyside – even winning five major honours during such a period.

Klopp was always full of praise for Fabinho during his time at Anfield, even claiming that he “always gave us the freedom to play all the fancy stuff” with his efforts in the defensive third.

However, despite his defensive role, the midfielder often popped up with numerous moments of magic in attacking areas – as seen with his wonder strike against Manchester City back in 2019.

Such a campaign was arguably his best for the Reds, as his efforts helped the club secure their first-ever Premier League title under Klopp’s guidance.

How Liverpool can finally replace Fabinho

Whilst Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister have created an excellent partnership at the base of the Liverpool midfield in recent years, added reinforcements are expected this summer.

After Iraola’s arrival, a whole host of midfield talents have been touted with a move to join the Reds – but their efforts in the market have so far been to no avail.

However, that could all be about to change, as the hierarchy appear to be stepping up their efforts to land a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers star João Gomes.

It’s been reported by Football Insider that Liverpool are preparing a move for the Brazilian star, after his proposed move to Atletico Madrid fell apart over recent weeks.

They also claim that the 25-year-old could be available for as little as £30m this summer after suffering relegation to the Championship at the end of last season.

Signing a player from the second-tier may not appeal to many supporters, but it does present Iraola the perfect opportunity to land a bargain transfer this summer.

Gomes is a player who has been a shining light in the Premier League over recent times, with his stats from last season highlighting why he could be the manager’s answer to Fabinho.

During his 35 matches in England’s top-flight last term, the 25-year-old managed to register a staggering 12.3 defensive contributions and 3.4 tackles made.

The aforementioned tallies rank him in the top 10% of all midfielders in the division – highlighting his ability to do the dirty work, just as Fabinho did during Klopp’s tenure.

His quality without the ball is further reflected in his tally of 6.2 ball recoveries made and 7.2 ground duels won per 90 – leading to talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbing him a “warrior.”

However, despite his defensive qualities, Fabinho was also known for his quality with the ball at his feet – something which Gomes has also demonstrated at Molineux.

During the 2025/26 campaign, he completed a phenomenal tally of 1.4 successful dribbles per 90 – which was the second-best of any central midfielder in the Premier League.

His 86% pass accuracy and 34% cross success rate highlight his ability to put the finishing touches to his mazy runs – just as Fabinho did during his own time in England.

£30m for a player of Gomes’ all-round quality could prove to be an excellent piece of business and one that would add serious quality to Iraola’s midfield department at Liverpool.

His similarity to his compatriot is there for all to see, with the Wolves star having the chance to become the next Brazilian to write his name in the Reds’ history books.